A New TraditionFirst Halloween Festival

The Halloween Town Festival will take place from noon to 2 a.m. Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at 1716 Hackberry Ave. in McAllen.

Event coordinator Margaret Rivera originally planned to host the festival at a smaller location fitting at most 280 people. Once the word got out, that number increased to 700 and then to several thousand potential attendees, according to the festival’s Facebook page.

“It’s a free event for the community and for all those Halloween enthusiasts,” Rivera said. “We set the date a week before Halloween since people normally host other parties and such. It’s just something fun to do to get ready for the real date.”

Working alongside Rivera is Blanca Perez Treviño, who aims to encourage people of all ages to dress up in costumes throughout October.

“I have been very fortunate and have attended many different Halloween festivities across the state and it’s so [exciting] to bring all the knowledge back to my hometown for our communities to enjoy,” Treviño said.

As a sponsor, Treviño genuinely enjoys watching others celebrate in the spirit of Halloween.

“My personal experience has been amazing to see the talent of many [impersonating] their favorite character, whether it’s extremely horrifying or extremely cute,” she said.

The event will feature a variety of entertainment such as music performances, games as well as an area designated for artists and vendors.

Vendor coordinator Rene Rosas Jr. keeps in touch with possible vendors to present their products at the Halloween Town Festival.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do before, but never had a chance to,” the 22-year-old said. “It’s something that doesn’t just cater to a certain age or demographic, it’s for everyone, kids [and] teens. I just wanted to bring a Halloween event that could incorporate everyone’s wants–to make something for the [Rio Grande Valley] that people can be proud of and enjoy doing each year.”

The community will be able to participate in video and card games–hosted by Critical Hit and The Stronghold Games, respectively. About 14 vendors will sell handcrafted art, paintings and collectibles.

There will be a series of Halloween-themed activities, such as a movie trivia, photo area, haunted house as well as costume and cosplay contests for cash prizes.